LILJ Boys Winter League Playoff Recap; Game Write-Ups, Analysis, Player Performances

The first week of playoffs in Week 3 of the LILJ Boys Winter League delivered everything you expect from postseason lacrosse—high energy, and players rising to the moment. Teams came out turning up the intensity on both ends of the field as every possession mattered. Defensive units tightened up, goalies made clutch saves, and offensive stars found ways to break through when it counted most. With championship games set for this Sunday in the JV and Varsity Divisions, the stage is officially set for the league’s top teams to battle it out for right to be LILJ Winter League Kings! Check out the full recaps of each matchup from last weekend down below!

St. Anthony’s 2027 vs Huntington

The first of two games on Saturday evening featured the Friars of St. Anthony’s and the Huntington Blue Devils. St. Anthony’s pulled away from Huntington for a 7–3 win, thanks to a dominant first half and strong contributions across the roster. The Friars opened the game with a 5–2 lead after the opening half, setting the tone for the rest of the contest. Huntington battled back in the second half but could only muster one goal, as St. Anthony’s defense and timely scoring secured the victory.

Offensively, St. Anthony’s was led by Reid Johnston and Logan Hecht (Rutgers), who each scored two goals, followed by one goal each scored by Shawn Tuccillo (Navy), Gavin Snyder (Army) and Alex Chalifoux giving SA balanced scoring throughout the game. At the face-off X Nathaniel Cooke won 6/11 face-offs and the defense saw Snyder, Tuccillo and Ryan Lasko (BU) each cause two turnovers, with Lasko also scooping up a team-high five ground balls. In goal, Jack Neary (Jacksonville) made five saves with a save percentage of 63%, holding Huntington to just three goals and giving the Friars the margin they needed to pull away.

Huntington saw contributions from Jack Kamenstein (Geneseo), Frankie Algieri and Blake Bender who each scored a goal, while at the face-off X was Colby Curran who came away with five wins. Freshman Chris Rado made an impact in the cage in the second half with seven saves and a stellar 78% save percentage.

For St. Anthony’s they finish in second place in the standings in the Varsity Division and will play for the championship against the SA seniors this Sunday at 7:45pm.

St. Anthony’s 2026 vs Ward Melville

The second of two games on Saturday evening saw the St. Anthony’s 2026 squad delivered a commanding performance over Ward Melville, cruising to a 13-4 victory behind a balanced offensive attack and solid defensive play. The Friars jumped out to an early 6-0 lead in the first half and never looked back, ultimately outscoring the Patriots 7-4 in the second half to seal the win.

Offensively, Jake Johnston (Hopkins) led the way for St. Anthony’s with an incredible 7-point outing, tallying three goals and four assists. Charles Cacciabaudo (UNC) and Robert Hommel (Florida Tech) each contributed three goals, providing a steady scoring presence throughout the contest. Other key contributors included Paul Lonigro, (Wingate) who was 90% at the X, Sean Ronayne (Rollins), Billy Atkinson (Bryant), and Michael O’Brien, each finding the back of the net and keeping the Friars’ offense firing from start to finish. Defensively, St. Anthony’s played a cohesive game, forcing turnovers and limiting Ward Melville’s opportunities in critical moments. The Friars ability to control possession and capitalize on transition chances was a key factor in maintaining their dominant lead.

On the other side Collin Mark struck for a hat-trick for the Patriots to lead the offense, while William Klein added one goal and one assist. At the face-off X Angelo Sorbera came away with eight face-off wins and also led the team in ground balls.

The Friars sit at the top of the Varsity Division and will play for the championship this Sunday at 7:45 where they face the St. Anthony’s juniors.

St. Anthony’s 2028 vs Legacy Taz 2030

St. Anthony’s squad showcased a balanced and explosive offense in an 11-6 victory over Legacy Taz 2030 JV. The Friars jumped out to a 4-2 lead in the first half and then dominated the second half with seven unanswered goals, sealing the win.

Aidan Dale led the charge for St. Anthony’s with another big time game, posting a 6-point performance, scoring four goals and adding two assists, showing excellent accuracy and offensive prowess. Dale showcased his versatility as he went 4/7 at the face-off X. Salvatore Ranieri also stood out with three goals on the evening, providing timely scoring throughout the game, while Parker Savarese chipped in two goals and an assist, helping to keep the offense flowing. Jake Echezuria forced two turnovers for St. Anthony’s and Nate Blind recorded three ground balls on the defensive end of the field. Splitting time in the cage was Colton O’Connell and Nicholas Sheridan with O’Connell posting a 60% save percentage in the first half and Sheridan with a 50% save percentage in the second half forcing a top flight goalie tandem.

Legacy Taz fought hard and battled especially in the second half as they stepped up in class playing two years up! Christian Busking led the team with two goals, while Gavin Rooney and Owen Abrams each added a goal to keep them within striking distance. The team saw strong play at the face-off X with Hunter Hodges going a perfect 4/4 and Austin Macomber going 6/9. Goalie Charlie Barbieri made eight saves playing in the second half with a save percentage of 67%.

Legacy Black 2029 vs Shore 2 Shore Trojans 2029

In the first semifinal game of the evening in the JV Division it was a Class of 2029 battle between Legacy Black and Shore 2 Shore Trojans for a spot in the championship game! Legacy Black put together a strong second-half performance to secure an 8-4 victory over the Shore 2 Shore Trojans. After falling behind 2-0 countered with two goals of their own to tie the game at the half and then surged in the second half, scoring six goals to just two by the Trojans.

Offensively, Cayden Peters led the charge with a hat-trick and several key contributions in transition, showcasing his ability to find open space and finish under pressure. Nico Spallina added two goals and proved dangerous with the ball in his stick, while Dylan Massari chipped in a goal and an assist to keep the offense flowing. Johnny Nessler and Connor Gill also contributed goals, rounding out a balanced offensive game by the team. They got tremendous play at the face-off X with long pole Ryan McCann going 11/13 for a winning percentage of 84% which was a big factor in their ability to control the game in the second half.

For the Trojans, Kevin Hegarty, Mason Murphy, Tommy Corning, and Christian Ferrari each scored a goal, keeping the team within striking distance, but the possession game being controlled by Legacy proved to be the difference.

Legacy Black will now play for the JV Championship on Sunday evening at 5:30pm taking on St. Anthony’s 2028.

St. Anthony’s 2028 vs Legacy Taz 2029

The second semifinal game of the day was St. Anthony’s sophomores and the freshmen of Legacy Taz. St. Anthony’s powered past Legacy Taz with an 11-3 win, showcasing balanced scoring and strong defensive play. From the opening whistle, the Saints controlled the pace, jumping out to a 6-2 lead in the first half and never looking back.

Offensively, Salvatore Ranieri led the way with a three goal game, while Aidan Dale added two goals and an assist, showing poise around the crease. Parker Savarese also scored two goals, and Charlie Gandolfo chipped in two goals, giving St. Anthony’s multiple scoring threats on the field. Max Snider and Liam Healy each added a goal, rounding out a balanced offense. Between the lines Liam Healy and Charlie Gandolfo were all over the field with a combined nine ground balls to lead the team. In the cage the combination of Colton O’Connell and Nicholas Sheridan didn’t allow much and combined for eight saves in the game.

For Legacy Taz their three goals were scored by three different players including Harry Karoussos, Al Pehanick and Daniel Galasso, while at the face-off X Brady Daniewicz was a perfect 7/7 and James Siragusa went 4/7.

St. Anthony’s will play for the JV Championship on Sunday evening at 5:30pm against the 2029s of Legacy Black.

St. Anthony’s 2026 vs Huntington

St. Anthony’s 2026 put together a complete performance on both ends of the field, earning an 11–1 victory over Huntington after building a 5–1 halftime lead and shutting the door defensively in the second half. The Friars controlled tempo from the opening whistle, winning key possessions, pushing transition, and limiting Huntington to just three shots on goal for the game.

Offensively, Brody Richert (Towson)led the charge with a standout four-point effort, finishing with three goals and an assist while consistently creating problems for the Huntington defense. Dylan Harrigan (Maryland) was equally effective, posting two goals and an assist on eight shots, while Jake Johnston (Hopkins) contributed all over the field with one goal and two assists, showing strong vision and playmaking ability. Robert Hommel (Florida Tech) added two goals of his own, and Charles Cacciabaudo (UNC) made his presence felt with a goal, an assist, and nine ground balls, anchoring the midfield with physicality and hustle. St. Anthony’s depth continued to show as Gavin Johnston and Chase Trivigno (Saint Leo) each found the back of the net, helping the Friars spread the scoring and keep pressure on throughout the contest. Paul LoNigro (Wingate) was in command at the face-off X going 7/11 for a 63% winning percentage.

For Huntington, Jack Kamenstein (Geneseo) accounted for the team’s only goal, while freshman goalie Chris Rado battled under heavy fire, making an impressive 16 saves with a save percentage of 59%.

The Friars sit at the top of the Varsity Division and will play for the championship this Sunday at 7:45pm where they face the St. Anthony’s juniors.

Kellenberg vs Hills

Kellenberg closed strong to earn a 6–3 victory over Hills, using a strong second half to flip the game after trailing early. Hills jumped out to a 3–1 lead after the first quarter, but Kellenberg responded with five unanswered goals, clamping down defensively and controlling possession the rest of the way.

The Firebirds’ offense was led by Eoin Power (NJIT), who struck for two goals while Dylan Roberts matched him on the scoreboard, finishing with two goals. Brayden Farrelly played the role of facilitator, posting a goal and two assists, showing strong vision and composure in the offensive set. Brendan McDevitt added a timely goal as well. Defensively, Kellenberg changed the game in the second half, limiting Hills to zero goals over the final 20 minutes. In goal, JP Mastacciuola was perfect in relief, stopping all eight shots he faced to preserve the lead, while Alfonso Yevoli made four saves with a 57% save percentage playing in the first half.

For Hills, Jake Casamento (UPenn) and Lucas Rodriguez each scored once. Salvatore Caiazzo battled in the midfield with seven ground balls, helping Hills compete at the faceoff X where Casamento was 4/6. In the cage Hills went with a trio of goaltenders including Michael Labovitz, Anthony Dickson and Hayden Weintraub who combined for nine saves.

Huntington vs Kellenberg

Huntington pulled away in the second half to secure a 9–5 win over Kellenberg, using a balanced offensive push and strong play at the faceoff X to create separation after a tight opening quarter. The Blue Devils held a slim 3–2 edge after the first, then outscored Kellenberg 6–3 in the second half to close out the win.

Jack Kamenstein (Geneseo) was a clear standout for Huntington, putting together a commanding performance with five goals, consistently beating defenders and finishing from multiple spots on the field. He set the tone offensively and was the driving force behind Huntington’s scoring surge. Frankie Algieri chipped in two goals and an assist, showing poise as both a scorer and facilitator, while Gannon Johnson and Brendan McNulty each found the back of the net to round out the scoring. Ryan Divico played a key role in the midfield, dishing out two assists and scooping up five ground balls to keep possessions alive.

Huntington’s control at the face-off X proved to be a big difference-maker, with Colby Curran winning 11/15 and collecting eight ground balls, allowing the Blue Devils to dictate tempo throughout the game. Defensively, Huntington did a stout job limiting second-chance opportunities, while the goalie tandem of Alvin Luna and Chris Rado combined for timely saves to hold off Kellenberg’s runs.

The Firebirds were led by Dylan Roberts, who accounted for three goals, continuing his strong offensive play by finishing efficiently on four shots on goal. Patrick Gormsen added two goals and an assist, providing a spark in the middle of the field. In goal, Alfonso Yevoli made six saves to keep Kellenberg within striking distance early.

Ward Melville vs Hills

Closing out Sunday night Ward Melville put together a dominant two-way performance in an 11–1 victory over Hills, jumping out to an early lead and never letting up. The Patriots controlled the game from the opening whistle, building a 5–0 halftime advantage before adding six more goals in the second half to cruise to the win.

Offensively, Ward Melville showcased impressive balance, with multiple players contributing to the scoring column. Collin Mark led the way with a hat trick consistently finding space and finishing cleanly around the crease. Jack Rella (Salve Regina) was a facilitator, tallying one goal and two assists while also scooping up five ground balls and creating turnovers. Gavin Lohmann added a goal and an assist, and Louis Montellese, William Klein, Patrick Mark, Chace Marksberry, Chris Retzlaff, and Connor McCrain all chipped in with goals to round out a deep offensive effort. Ward Melville’s dominance extended to the midfield and face-off X, where Angelo Sorbera was a major difference-maker, winning 12/13 face-offs and collecting a game-high 11 ground balls, allowing the Patriots to control possession throughout the contest. Defensively, Ward Melville was sharp and physical, forcing turnovers and limiting Hills’ quality offensive opportunities.

Hills’ lone goal came from Salvatore Caiazzo (UVM), who finished on one of his two shots and also battled at the face-off X. Brody Pleasants and Jake Casamento (UPenn)worked hard defensively, each contributing ground balls and caused turnovers.

Be sure to catch all the action in the final weekend of the LILJ Winter League on Sunday beginning at 4:45pm. Click here to tune into the livestream powered by LI Sports Network!